Pocan also brushed off criticism of his voting record on taxes and budget matters from 2nd Congressional District Republican competitor Chad Lee. He said like other states, Wisconsin inherited a budget deficit due to the weak federal economy. The Madison Democratic state representative said he worked as Joint Finance Committee co-chair to solve a multi-billion-dollar deficit through cuts, revenue increases and the help of stimulus dollars.

“So I've actually been there when we've had to make some tough decisions and some tough cuts, but also when we've had to raise some revenue,” Pocan said on the program, produced in conjunction with WisPolitics.com.

He said in order to address the deficit he had to compromise with both sides. Pocan said he plans on using this technique to conquer problems in Congress.

“We are facing what they call the fiscal cliff at the end of the year,” he said. “It is going to get punted into the next Congress. So one of the first things I am probably really going to have to deal with is resolving this issue.”

While he said he'll stick to his core values, he's willing to compromise to get things done.

“You have to have win-win on both sides to actually have a compromise that works,” Pocan said. “But we have to get something done. This current Congress has been completely dysfunctional.”

Continued economic recovery is a big issue to his constituents, Pocan said, along with Medicare. He knocked the Republican fix-it plan.

“The real problem is they want to 'fix' Medicare,” he said. “Well, anyone out there who has a dog knows what that means. Things are never quite the same afterward and you go through a lot of pain in the process.”

Instead, Pocan proposed preserving Medicare and making it run more effectively.

-- Also on the program was Wisconsin Capitol Police Chief David Erwin, who said the free permit process in the Capitol is being enforced to protect the working environment and respect other visitors.

Specifically, if a group has four or more people they need a permit. Also, disorderly actions are forbidden. “People are making this about the First Amendment,” Erwin said. “It is not about the First Amendment; it is about the permitting process and it is that simple.”

However, the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Mining, urges lawmakers to get a realistic grasp on the timeframe of creating a new mine and jobs. He said according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it takes about six years for a new mine to open.

Also, for those opposed to mines due to environmental concerns, Wisconsin has strict regulations protecting natural resources, according to Cullen. “To get a permit here or in Minnesota or Michigan for that matter you have to show that the mining company can protect the resources,” he said. “This permitting process isn’t complicated. You are asking the mining company, `How are you going to mine. Secondly, how are you going to clean up the mess after you leave?' Mining creates piles of unneeded earth that they have dug up to get the 20 percent that is iron ore. How are you going to handle the other 80 percent.”

--Mike Gousha says there isn't a wealth of topics being covered in the television advertising related to Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race.